Google Search

Revealed: Why Klopp rejected Manchester United in 2013

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp turned down Manchester United, who approached him as a prime candidate to replace the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

The Old Trafford club, our opponents on Saturday, sounded out the German due to his success at Borussia Dortmund, which had seen him win consecutive Bundesliga titles.

However, according to the Telegraph, Klopp surprised United’s hierarchy by flatly refusing their advances, despite them telling him it was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’.

Klopp told them he wanted to stay at Dortmund so as to challenge Pep Guardiola, who was arriving to the league that year to take over at Bayern Munich.

He signed a five-year extension with the Germans, but ended up leaving after the 2014/15 season, following a disappointing campaign with BVB.

In 2013, United appointed David Moyes, of course, who proved a spectacular failure, while Jose Mourinho is now slowly getting them back to where they once where thanks largely to a never-ending transfer budget.

Klopp took over at Liverpool in late 2015 and is now two years into his Anfield project.

Hopefully on Saturday, his team can show him why he made the right choice…